Personality Disorder Symptoms, Causes, and Effects

Overview

Personality disorders are a type of mental health issue defined by rigid and abnormal ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving.

Personality disorders are a form of mental illness that may have serious consequences in one’s life and relationships if left undetected and untreated. Personality disorders allow people to display a wide range of emotions and actions that are harmful to relationships, prompting friends and family to retreat from them. Give us a call to learn more about treatment options if you or someone you know has a personality issue.

If you have a personality disorder, you may struggle to relate to people and cope with ordinary situations in the ways that your cultural group expects. You may be unaware of the disparity between your views and behaviors and those approved by society.

You may have a very different perspective on the world than others. As a result, it may be difficult for you to engage in social, educational, and family activities.

These attitudes and behaviors frequently produce issues and restrictions in relationships, social interactions, and job or school situations. They may also cause you to feel disconnected from others, which can add to despair and anxiety.

What Are the Types of Personality Disorders?

There are several main groups of personality disorders, each with its own distinguishing feature. Disorders can coexist, and symptoms might overlap. Suicide can be caused by personality problems; according to the National Institute of Mental Health, 90 percent of those who commit suicide have a diagnosable mental illness. The following are the several categories of personality disorders:

Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD) is a type of personality disorder in which
People who suffer from paranoid personality disorder believe that everyone is conspiring against them. Unlike schizophrenia, the disease seldom progresses to full-blown psychosis.

Schizoid Personality Disorder is a type of personality disorder that affects people.
Patients with this illness are more likely to shun social engagement and ignore social cues. Introverts occasionally love socializing, therefore the problem extends beyond introversion.

Antisocial Personality Disorder People with antisocial personality disorder are known for their disrespect for other people’s rights and feelings, and they frequently commit illegal crimes for selfish gain.

Borderline Personality Disorder is a kind of personality disorder.
Patients with borderline personality disorder have unpredictable emotions and mood swings. It does not frequently recur in cycles, unlike bipolar illness.

Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD) is a kind of personality disorder in which
Acting is an extremely dramatic or emotional manner, generally in an attempt to attract attention, is a symptom of this illness.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a personality disorder in which a person
Narcissistic personality disorder, named after a character from Greek mythology, leads sufferers to have an inflated sense of self or importance, frequently at the expense of others.

APD stands for Avoidant Personality Disorder: People who suffer from avoidant personality disorder are frequently highly timid and insecure.

Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD) is a type of personality disorder that
Dependent personality disorder makes it difficult for people to operate without the help or encouragement of others.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) is a kind of obsessive-compulsive
The primary symptom of this illness is a tendency to engage in repeated actions and mental processes.

What causes personality disorders?

Personality disorders have no recognized etiology. They are thought to be induced by genetic and environmental factors, the most notable of which is childhood trauma.

Personality problems usually appear in adolescence or early adulthood. The symptoms of personality disorders differ based on the kind. Treatment for all of them usually consists of talk therapy and medication.

Your genes: Your parents may pass on some personality traits to you through inherited genes. These characteristics are referred to as your temperament.

Your surroundings: This includes your upbringing, experiences in your life, and connections with family members and others.

What Are the Signs of a Personality Disorder?

Excessive behavior, dramatic or unpredictable conduct, and anxious or afraid behavior are the three categories of behaviors that characterize personality disorders. Atypical behaviors can indicate a condition, but only a professional assessment can provide a more precise diagnosis.

  • Emotional Symptoms of Personality Disorders According to the Mayo Clinic, the emotional symptoms of personality disorders differ between diseases and manifest themselves to varied degrees in each person. People with avoidant personality disorder, for example, have a strong aversion to conflict, which allows others to take advantage of them. Poor impulse control and a proclivity for substance misuse are two further signs to look out for.
  • Physical Symptoms of Personality Disorders Personality problems impact the intellect, but they can also cause people to ignore their physical well-being. For example, someone suffering from schizophrenia or a similar disease may ignore personal hygiene or suffer from sleeplessness as a result of frightening ideas, but someone suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder may have raw skin as a result of excessive bathing. A complete psychiatric examination is typically required since a personality problem is difficult to identify without the requisite medical background.

Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of a Personality Disorder

Personality disorders have a number of long-term and short-term repercussions on the mind. They include the following, but are not limited to:

  • Difficulty in relationships
  • Increased withdrawal from socialization
  • Mood swings
  • Depression
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Attempted suicide
  • Decline in physical health due to lack of care